Most people have a party on their birthday, but Avril Lavigne is having a month-long party -- for charity!
Avril's born day is on Thursday, September 27. Earlier this month she had a celebrity auction going on, selling things like two tickets to a Lady Gaga concert, a "Part of Me" movie poster signed by Katy Perry, and signed tanning oil from (Who else?) Pauly D. Proceeds benefited the Avril Lavigne Foundation, which helps kids and young people living with a serious illness or disability.
While the celebrity auction part is over, Avril still has some fun charity opportunities going on through her b-day. You can donate directly in the Avril Lavigne Foundation Rockstar Room and get rewards, where a secret item to benefit the Foundation is also going to be announced this week (a foundation spokesperson hinted it is going to be "larger than life"). We wanted to learn more, so we spoke to the birthday girl herself!
ACT: The Avril Lavigne Foundation is dedicated to helping young people living with serious illnesses or disabilities. Why did you decide that this would be the issue you'd get involved with?
AVRIL: Before I founded the Avril Lavigne Foundation, I was involved in a few different projects to support causes around the world. One of these is the Make-A-Wish Foundation, who I have worked with for years to help seriously ill kids achieve their dreams. Learning about these kids' experiences and seeing how strong they are to have overcome so many different challenges really inspired me on a personal level.
I wanted to focus on the kids and create fun programs for them to participate in outside of a hospital-like environment. Currently, the Foundation partners with organizations like Easter Seals, Make-A-Wish and the Mattel Children's Hospital to help these kids. One example is the Avril Lavigne Rockstar Club at Easter Seals, which supports recreation programs in local communities. These recreational programs are typically the ones that get cut first from budgets.
ACT: Gaga tixs! Signed Katy Perry posters! We'd all love to get the stuff at your auction. Too bad it's over! For fans who want to help, what would you recommend they do instead to make a difference?
AVRIL: I am so glad you asked that! There are so many ways to get involved and everyone has the power to make a difference. One thing I recommend is taking a moment to think of ways you can make someone else smile, especially someone who may be facing challenges like coping with a serious illness or living with a disability. This can be as small as posting a Tweet or Facebook message about what issues or causes matter to you, or volunteering at an organization such as your local Easter Seals affiliate.
ACT: Happy soon-to-be-birthday (and congrats on the engagement, BTW)! You sing, you have a fashion line, you have a foundation, amongst other things! How do you have time to do it all?!
AVRIL: Thank you!!! This has been an incredible year for me. My music, fashion, philanthropy, making a record, getting engaged and trying to find a creative way to make them all overlap keeps me inspired and motivated. I also think that having a great team, including my kick-ass fans and awesome Avril Lavigne Foundation supporters, is super important. All in all, I am really excited and having so much fun!
